The government has launched a fresh compensation campaign for residents of Buvuma District whose land was taken over more than a decade ago for an oil palm farming project, reviving long-standing claims of unpaid landowners and renewed political pressure over unresolved grievances.
In 2008, the government signed an agreement with a Malaysian investor to establish a large-scale oil palm plantation in the Buvuma Islands.
Under the deal, the state was required to secure and hand over 5,000 hectares of land across Buvuma Town Council, Busamuzi, Buwoya and Nairambi sub-counties.
Many residents initially welcomed the project and voluntarily agreed to sell their land to facilitate its implementation.
While some landowners were surveyed and compensated, others in areas including Kikongo, Buwoya, Maye, Kacanga and Buziri say they surrendered their land but were never paid.
The unresolved claims triggered disputes that later spilled into the courts, with residents saying they were eventually evicted from their land before compensation was made.
Oil palm planting proceeded on the disputed land, leaving affected families without their main source of livelihood.
Susana Lakwonero, the National Oil Palm Project Manager, said the government has decided to re-survey all disputed land and verify legitimate landowners as a way of resolving the conflicts.
She assured residents that all rightful claimants would be compensated once verification is complete.
Buvuma Deputy Resident District Commissioner Dauda Kato confirmed that his office has received numerous complaints from residents who gave out their land but have never received payment.
The Commissioner for Surveys and Land Titles, Ibrahim Magemeso, acknowledged that while there are genuine landowners with outstanding claims, many of the disputes have been complicated by fraudulent actors.
He said the verification process would help establish legitimate ownership and eliminate false claims.
Government valuer Tonny Magembe pledged to conduct the exercise transparently and urged residents to remain on their land during the surveying and valuation process with all relevant documentation.
However, tensions emerged when some residents, led by Nangobi Nassimu, protested the list of complainants, alleging that it contains “ghost” individuals who are not known in the area and have never owned land in Buvuma.
Other residents, including Christopher Kyeyune, welcomed the government’s decision to deploy modern surveying equipment and professional valuers, saying the approach could help restore trust in the process.
Lukiya Namukoma, the chairperson of Mayinja Village, expressed concern that the exercise may be politically driven, questioning why it is being conducted during the current political season.
She noted that residents have demanded compensation for years, with surveyors and valuers previously appearing separately, making it unusual for both teams to work simultaneously.
Buvuma Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Isah Mbogge urged claimants who appeared during the exercise to submit their land documents for verification. He said the government has so far secured Shs 14 million out of the Shs 28 billion required to clear all compensation claims.
The compensation issue has remained a dominant concern in the district’s political discourse.
During a recent rally in Buvuma, residents challenged the Buganda Ku Museveni campaign team to ensure the matter is resolved, warning that failure to do so could trigger political backlash in the 2026 elections.
